Automatic signal flare and marker buoy



May 19, 1953 M. SESERA 2,539,106

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FLARE AND MARKER BUOY v Filed July 15, 1949 sSheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS May 19, 1953 M. SESERA AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FLAREAND MARKER BUOY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 15, 1949 02' 1] 11 :3 1 0J02 as 116' n 09 V 97/1/ J5 IN VEN T OR.

ATTDRN EYS Patented May 19, 1953 AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FLARE AND MARKER BUOYMichael Sescra, West range, N. J. Application July 15., 1949.,Serial'No.'104,'907

Claims. (01. 244-1) 1 This invention relates to improvements "inautomatic signal flares and marker buoys and more particularly to selfcontained devices that are adapted to be used for aerial and marineuse,. For aerial use, a compartment is rovided in the fuselage of anairplane in which the signal flare and. marker buoy is positioned. Thecompartmentis provided with spring actuated doors which controlled froma position nearthe pilot can be openedto permit the device to emergefrom the compartment.

The device being arranged so'that it is provided with a water-tight bodythat will float upon contact of the fuselage of the airplane with'thesurface of the water with the top ofthe device above the surface of thewater.

The device being providedwith-means for supporting thesame in a verticalposition upon contact. with the ground surface. can be dropped from theairplane to engage the ground prior'to the crash of the airplane.

For marine use a container can be placed on the. deck of a large orsmall vessel andprovided with a cover that can be opened will floatasthe vessel submerges.

An important object of the device therefore is toprovide a marker whichis susceptible of 'beingv seen by night or day, and by its-operationpermit a vessel or airplane to be located without the necessity of radiodirection signals.

Radio signals are usually given just prior to the catastrophe, and ifthe radio is'then damaged, the device will enable. another vessel orairplane to locate the wreckage.

In this manner lives will be savedand-property salvaged, since thedevice will definitely locate the vessel or airplane upon which it isinstalled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will insureproper ignition or lighting of the flares at predetermined intervalswithout further effort on thepart of any-survivors of the crash orvsinking.

, A further'object of the invention is to provide a device which is safeto handle, durable, and

composed of few parts, will not become easily damaged once ithasbeeninstalled.

With the above and other "objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists "of the novel features of construction, arrangement andcombinationof partsas willbe hereinafter more fully described in detailand illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part 'o'ftheapplication andin which Fig; 1 is an elevational view of an airplanepartly broken away to show the manner of the 'sta-llati-onofanembodiment-oi the invention.

Fig. 2'is a top plan view of the installation of Fig. 1 with the coverpartly broken awayto view the top of the device positioned therein.

Fig. 3 is a top planview of the device with the markers fully extendedto show their position when the device-'is'in operation either on landoron the water.

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective viewof asection of one of the markers.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the device on the line 5-5o'fFig. 2.

s Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the device on the line 6-6 ofFig. 5.

Fig. '7 is the same on the line 1 -1 of Fig. 5. Fig. 815 a detailedtopplan view of the actuating mechanism-for igniting the flares.

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view-of the squib for igniting the flare.

' Fig. 10 is a detailed fragmentary :view of the timing mechanism forthe ignition of the flares.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical system and timingmechanism for controlling the flares,--and Fig. 12 is a detailedsectional view of the top construction of the flare container of. thedevice.

Referring more in detail to the-drawings an embodiment of the inventionis shown and described for aerial use.

In Fig. l thereis' shown a conventionalshowing ofan airship 20 and it isto beunderstood that such showing is merely illustrated, andunotrestricted in its scope.

To position the device in itheiuselage of the airship 20 a compartmentor. container 2! of a light weight noncombustiblematerial is used. Thecontainer 12! willextendientirely through the fuselage permittingegressof the device either through the top 'orbottom thereof.

The container ;2l is provided at the top: and bottom thereofwith hingedcovers or doors 22 and 23 respectively and a coveror ,door22 is retainedinclosed position bya pivoted latch 25. The cover or door 23 beingretained in closed position by a pivoted latch 25.

-'I'h e'latch'24 is controlled in its operation bya cable 26 whichpassing over asheave 2? is connected to the pivoted lever 28 mounted in.a position within reach-of the pilotseat .29. It will be seen thatmovement of lever. 28 will cause the cable to pivot the latch 24 torelease the cover or door 22 which by its spring actuating hinges 22Easyshown in Fig. .2,-will immediatelymove into open position as shown bydotted lines in Fig.1.

In-like; manner, the latch 25, is controlled in its operation by arable.which passing over a sheave 3|, isconnected to .the pivoted lever '32mounted adjacent the lever 28 and within the reach of the pilot seat 29.In this instance however, the device will not emerge from the container2| upon operation of the door 23 alone. The device being retained in thecontainer 2| by pivoted keepers 33 and 34 respectively as shown inFig. 1. To the keeper 33 there is connected a control cable 35 and tothe keeper 34 there is connected 9. control cable 36. The cable 36 isconnected to the cable 38 at 31 and the cable 35 is connected to thecable 36 at 38. Thus upon movement of the lever 32 the cable 38 will beactuated. The cable 38 connected to cable 36 will cause simultaneousoperation of cables 35 and 36 to actuate the pivoted keepers 33 and 34at the same time that latch 25 is released from its engagement with thedoor 23 thus as the door 23 opens and the keepers 33 and 34 are actuatedthe device will drop outwardly of the container 2| for the purpose to belater described.

Viewing Fig. it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention to belater described comprises a hollow non-combustible buoyant body 39. Thebottom 48 of the body is provided with a centrally located flangedopening 4| through which passes a hollow non-combustible flarecontaining portion 42. The flanged opening 4! being fixed to the portionin any well known manner.

The top of the body 39 is provided with an opening 43 which is providedwith a concentric inset flange 44 which is adapted to receive theout-turned flange end 45 of the portion 62.

Within the inset flange 44 there is provided a non-combustible disc 46on top of which is placed a frangible disc 41, on this disc 4! is placeda non-combustible disc 48, and all the discs are fixed to the flange 44in water tight relation thereto by fasteners 49.

The purpose of this construction will be later described.

The portion 42 may be of any length desired and the body 39 will havesuincient buoyancy to support the portion 42 and its contents so thatthe top of the body will be above water level.

Fixed in the closed bottom 49 of the portion 42 is a flange disc 58which is provided with a plurality of concentrically located openings 5|in which is received the lower ends of the flares 52.

The center of the disc 58 is provided with a protuberance 53 which isadapted to engage the bottom of the lowermost dry cell 54. As many drycells as are desired are located in the portion 42. At the top of theuppermost dry cell 54 there is the disc 55. The disc 55 is provided withthe same number of openings 56 as is the disc 58 with the openings 51and the flares 52 passing upwardly through the disc 55.

Fixed to the bottom 49 of the portion 42 are the nuts 51 which removablyreceive the threaded ends 58 of the rods 59. The rods 59 extend upwardlywithin the portion 42 in contact with the dry cells 54. Openings 88 inthe disc 59 and openings 6| in the disc 55 permit the extension of therods there through.

On the disc 55 there is positioned a circular plate 62 having opening 63to receive the upper ends of the rods 59. Nuts 64 on the upper threadedends 65 of the rods 59 will when tightened urge the plate 62 and disc 55downwardly on the rods 59.

Between the dry cells and the disc 55 in contact with the dry cells 54are the non-conducting compressible members 66. Thus when the nuts 64are tightened the dry cells by means of the protuberance 53 and members66 will be retained in the portion 42 within the rods 59.

The discs 46 and 48 are provided with the same number of openings 61 asare the discs 58 and 56 and the flares extend upwardly to meet in ashort distance of these openings. The disc 4'! however does not haveopenings, and thus the disc 41 will prevent water from entering theportion 42 through the openings 61.

The discs 49, 4'! and 48 are each provided with a central opening 68through which the guide rod 69 extends. The rod 69 at its lower threadedend 18 being received in the tapped boss H at the center of the plate62.

Slidably mounted on the rod 69 by means of the flange openings 12 is theplunger 13. Fixed to each end of the plunger 13 is an upwardly extendingguide rod 14 which extending upwardly through openings 15 in disc 46, 41and 48 will abut the cover or door 22. Such abutment being achieved bythe medium of the coil spring 16 sleeved on the rod 69 intermediate ofthe boss H on the plate 62 and the under surface of the plunger 13. Thespring 16 urging the rod 74 upwardly against the cover will when thecover is opened cause the plunger 13 to move upwardly carrying thecontact 11 carried by the plunger 13 and insulated therefrom bynon-conducting sleeve 18 to engage the contact 19 carried on theundersurface of the disc 49. The contact being insulated from the discby means of the non-conducting means 88.

It will be noted that a wire 8| connects the contact 19 with the pluspole 82 of the upper most dry cell 54. From then on the dry cells areconnected in series with the minus pole 83 of the uppermost dry cellbeing connected to the plus pole of the next dry cell by a wire 84, andso on to the last dry cell. The protuberance 53 engaging the metalcontainer of the last dry cell acts as a ground contact for the circuitwith the portion 42 forming the ground for the circuit.

Fixed to the uppermost disc 48 centrally thereof is a housing 94 havinga removable cover 85 thereon carrying a glass face 86. Within thishousing 84 is a casing 81 for a time controlled flare ignitingmechanism.

Referring to Fig. 10 the casing 81 has a closed bottom 88 and aremovable non-conducting top 89 and a removable curved rim 98 isoverlapped on the perimeter of the casing 81 as at 91. Journalled in thebottom 88 and top 89 in vertical parallel relation with the wall of thecasing 81 is a shaft 92 and collars 93 adjacent the ends of the shaftretain the shaft in proper position for the journalling thereof. On theshaft 92 is a large worm gear 94 which is engaged by the worm 95 on thedrive shaft 95 of a motor 91 mounted in the casing 81.

Fixed to the bottom 88 of the casing 81 adjacent the shaft 92 is abearing bracket 98. Journalled in this bracket 98 and the top 89 is ashort shaft 99. The shaft 99 extends above the top 89 to receive thesweep or conductor arm I88. Carried at the end of the arm I88 is acontact point [8! the purpose of which will be later described. Thelower end of the shaft 99 frictionally engages the contact bracket I82which is carried by yet insulated from the bracket 98. Collars I83 andI84 are carried by the shaft 99 to retain the shaft 99 in like manner asis shaft 92.

Fixed to shaft 92 intermediate of the collar 5 93 andworm gear 94 is asmall gear I05 whiehis in alinementand engagement with a similar :searI96 .onshatt199. Thus as shaft92 is rotated by themotor .91 theshaft-.99 .carryingthe sweep arm I will in turn be rotated.

Referring to the diagram shown in Fig. 11 .it will be noted that thecontactwlt. is connected with the movable arm ,IOI of aswitch byrhe leadI08. The fixed contact I of the switch beingconnected to the .motor .9!.by alead :I I0 andv a-lead HI tothe casing Iilwill groundthe circuitfor the operation of the motor.

A secondary lead I I2 from the lead I I 0 is connected'tothe contactbracket-I02 and provides a positive source of current tor the arm I 00.

Goncentrically arranged on the insulated top 89 of the casing 81 is aplurality of contacts H3. The contacts are so arranged that they lie inthe path of rotation of the contact point IN on the arm I00. From eachcontact H3 a lead H4 is connected to the squib H5 at the upper end ofeach flare 52.

The squib comprises a hot wire H6 and an ignition charge HI Fig. 9 andeach squib is grounded by a lead H8 to the body 39. The grounds beinguniform since portion 42 is connected to the body 39 and the body 39 isconnected to the casing 01.

In the operation of this portion of the invention the raising of thecover 22 will cause the plunger I3 to move upwardly through theexpansion of the spring I6. Contact TI engaging contact I9 and with thecontact I0'I engaging contact I09 the motor 91 will be energized. Themotor will then cause the arm I00 to rotate when the contact IOI engagesthe contact H3 current will flow to the squib H5 causing the hot wire H9to ignite the charge H1 and the flare 52. Thus the flare will burn andthe device will be visible.

The rotation of the arm is controlled through the medium of the gears sothat one flare will not be ignited until the other one has beenextinguished. Any period of time being available through the use ofvarious size gears as desired.

For visibility during the day the following structure is used.

Secured to each side of the body 39 is a bracket plate H9 and to eachbracket plate there are fixed by means of straight ends H9 two coilsprings I20 to which is fixed by means of the bent ends I2I a markerI22. Secured by springs I20 having oppositely bent ends I2I' are aplurality of similar markers I22 to form a pattern as shown in Fig. 3.The markers may use two contrasting colors as shown in this figure orother characteristics of identification may be used.

The device has been described as a float, but if it is desirable tolocate the device before a ground crash, a ground penetrating spike I23formed on a circular plate I24 is used. The plate I24 being fixed to thebottom of the portion 42.

In use the device is placed in the container 2I either in the airplaneas shown in Fig. 1 or it may be positioned on the deck of a vessel.

When a crash of the plane on the water is inevitable the lever 28 willbe moved causing the cable 26 to pivot the latch 24 to cause the cover23 to open. As the airplane strikes the water the body 39 will float, inthe meantime the markers have moved and the device will float on thewater as shown in Fig. 3. A reel I25 mounted in the fuselage 20 has acable I26 thereon which is connected to the eye bolt I2'I on the body39.

can be used on airplanes or vessels to indicate the position-ofacrash-or sinking.

It is b ie ed a h t tramhe towerin c ption thestructure and operation ofthe device willbe apparent to those slgilledin the. ,art, and it is tobe understood that changes in the minor details of construction,arrangement and com-' bination of parts may be resorted to, providedthey fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic signal flare and marker buoy comprising a buoyant body,a tubular portion secured to and extending below the body, a pluralityof flares carried by said tubularportion, apertured discs in saidportion engaging said flares to retain said flares in spaced relation toeach other, and electrically actuated means having electrical connectionwith the flares for intermittently igniting said flares carried by saidbody when said means is actuated.

2. An automatic signal flare and marker buoy comprising a buoy body anda flare containing portion secured thereto and depending therefrom,flares in said flare containing portion, apertured discs in said flarecontaining portion engaging said flares to retain said flares in spacedrelation to each other, means for igniting the flares carried by eachflare, a, current source carried in said flare containing portion andconnected to the means for igniting said flares and means interpolatedbetween said last means and said current source to cause the operationof said igniting means at predetermined intervals of time.

3. In an automatic signal flare and marker buoy having a buoyant bodyand a flare containing portion having flares therein, connected to asource of electrical current, and a plurality of apertured discs in saidflare containing portion engaging said flares to retain the same inspaced relation to each other, the improvement comprising timingmechanisms connected to said flares and to said source of electricalcurrent for causing the ignition of the flares at predetermined timeintervals.

4. In an automatic signal device for use with an airplane theimprovement comprising a casing mounted in said airplane for retainingthe signal device therein, said casing having remote controlled springhinged doors, a buoyant body in said casing having a flare containingportion thereon, flares in said portion, a plurality of apertured discsin said flare containing portion engaging said flares to retain the samein spaced relation to each other, an electrical source of currentconnected to said flares and means carried by said body and connected tosaid flares and to said source of current for causing ignition of 7 saidflares by said source of current upon the opening of the doors of saidcontainer.

5. A float signal for aerial and marine use comprising a buoyant body, aflare containing portion on said body, flares in said portion, means insaid portion for retaining said flares in spaced relation to each other,dry cells in said portion intermediate of said last means, means carriedby said flares for the ignition thereof, and means connected to said drycells and to the means for igniting the flares whereby said last meansis caused to ignite said flares at predetermined time intervals.

MICHAEL SESERA.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber Number Name Date Rose Feb. 19, 1901 Wiese Sept. 24, 1901 Hyra eta1. May 5, 1914 Holt July 13, 1920 Zappey May 3, 1921 Hogg May 8, 1928Goss May 4, 1937 Solski Jan. 3, 1939 Marple Mar. 19, 1946 Albin Sept.21, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 26, 1934 GreatBritain Oct. 19, 1948

